Dr. Kathy Lu

Professor

Research Interests:

• Material synthesis, processing, and fundamental studies with focus on particulate materials
• Energy material selection, design, processing, and fundamental understanding
• Composites, hybrids, functionally/structurally graded materials, porous materials
• Polymer derived ceramics and composites
• Ultrahigh surface area materials, coatings
• Diversity in engineering education
   

Education:

• B.S., Ceramics, Tianjin University, China
• M.S., Ceramics, Tianjin University, China
• M.S., MSE, Ohio State University
• Ph.D., MSE, Ohio State University
  

Honors and Awards:

• 2020 Fulbright Distinguished Chair Award
• 2020 ELATES (Executive Leadership in Academic Technology, Engineering and Science) Fellow
• 2017 Fellow of the American Ceramic Society
• 2016 Virginia Tech Alumni Award for Research Excellence 
• 2015 Associate Editor, Journal of the American Ceramic Society 
• 2014 Editorial Review Board of Frontiers in Energy Research, section Fuel Cells 
• 2014 Editorial Board Member of Annals of Materials Science & Engineering 
• 2012 Virginia Tech College of Engineering Faculty Fellow Award
• 2011 Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
• 2008 Karl Schwartzwalder- Professional Achievement in Ceramic Engineering Award
• 2005 Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award, Oak Ridge Associated Universities
• 2001 P/M Metallography Competition Award, APMI International  
   

Professional Affiliations:

• The American Ceramic Society
• Materials Research Society
• TMS, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society
• American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society 

Recent Publications

Research Group

Read my Books!

Nanoparticulate Materials: Synthesis, Characterization, and Processing

Materials in Energy Conversion, Harvesting, and Storage